The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has taken an unprecedented step by launching criminal investigations into the deaths of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and her family, as well as 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza. This decision comes after a review of approximately 150 “exceptional” incidents involving its troops during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The IDF’s admission marks a significant shift from its previous denials of involvement in the incidents. The military’s General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM) has identified alleged failures in coordinating the movement of a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance, leading to the deaths of two paramedics.
The Tragic Story of Hind Rajab
On January 29, 2026 Hind Rajab and her family were traveling through Gaza City after receiving Israeli evacuation orders. Their vehicle came under fire, resulting in the deaths of five passengers. Hind and her 15-year-old cousin Layan Hamada initially survived but were later found dead twelve days later, along with the bodies of the two paramedics who had attempted to rescue them.
The IDF has acknowledged that its troops fired at the vehicle carrying the Hamada family, contrary to its earlier statements. Recordings released by the PRCS captured Layan’s desperate call for help before the line went dead. Hind’s pleas for rescue were later immortalized in the docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2026.
The Killings of Palestinian Medics
In another high-profile incident, the IDF has announced a criminal investigation into the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medics and a U.N. employee, during three shooting incidents in Tel al-Sultan a neighborhood in Rafah on March 23, 2026. The victims were killed while wearing their uniforms and driving clearly marked vehicles. The IDF initially claimed that the vehicles were advancing suspiciously but backtracked after footage emerged showing the teams driving with their emergency lights flashing.
The military has admitted that after the shooting, troops decided to crush the vehicles and cover the bodies with metal mesh. The Military Prosecution concluded that the firing conducted during the incident raises a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct.
International Outcry and Calls for Justice
The deaths of Hind Rajab and the Palestinian medics have drawn international attention and outrage. Hind’s grandmother, also named Hind Rajab, has called for an international investigation, stating, “An international investigation is required to uncover the truth and hold all those responsible accountable.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent has also insisted on an international investigation, with spokesman Raed al-Nims stating that Israeli measures are not enough. The docudrama about Hind’s death, The Voice of Hind Rajab has won international awards and further highlighted the need for accountability.
The IDF’s decision to launch criminal investigations into these incidents is a rare step, as Israeli rights groups have long questioned the effectiveness of the military’s system for investigating alleged wrongdoing by its own forces. The investigations come amid ongoing conflict and a high civilian death toll in Gaza.
